Xylitol linked to increased risk of heart attack and stroke

A new study has linked higher blood levels of xylitol, a common sugar substitute, to an increased risk of major cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes.

Researchers analyzed data from two large observational studies in North America and Europe involving 17,710 participants with an average age of 60.9 years. After adjusting for traditional risk factors such as age, smoking status, diabetes, and high blood pressure, the study found that individuals with the highest plasma xylitol levels faced a 57 percent higher risk of major adverse cardiovascular events over a six-year follow-up period compared to those with the lowest levels.

Dr. Marco Witkowski of Charité University Hospital in Berlin noted that previous research suggested xylitol could increase the ability of blood platelets to form clots. While the findings show a significant correlation in the general population, researchers emphasized that this does not prove a causal relationship and called for further studies to confirm the findings.